Algorand Blockchain Powers 30% of Afghanistan's Electricity Bills

Algorand has become an integral part of Afghanistan's financial infrastructure, particularly in utility payments. According to the Algorand Foundation, 30% of the country's electricity bills are paid using the Algorand blockchain through HesabPay.

This is one of the largest real-world applications of blockchain technology in a developing country, where about 80% of people still don't have access to traditional banking. Marc Vanlerberghe, Algorand's Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer, described this as 'a live, large-scale deployment' rather than a test or demo.

HesabPay, which was founded by Sanzar Kakar in 2016, originally aimed to deliver humanitarian assistance but has since expanded its services. It now handles utility bills, peer-to-peer transfers, aid distribution, payroll, mobile airtime, and merchant payments, all using the Algorand blockchain.

The Algorand network was chosen for its cheapness, speed, high capacity, and energy efficiency, thanks to its Pure Proof-of-Stake system. This means that stablecoin transfers settle quickly and remain affordable for everyday use.